Mariners Game Recap: Mariners Fall to the Home Run Ball

Pax-Man’s first outing of the season with the Mariners did not go according to plan.

The Seattle Mariners (30-22) were laughed out of Petco Park by the the San Diego Padres (21-33) on Wednesday night. It was the Padres turn to use the home run ball to spark their offense, and they definitely used it. Christian Friedrich (2-1, 2.53 ERA) earned the victory for the Padres, and James Paxton (0-1, 7.36  ERA) took the loss for the Mariners.

The Mariners offense picked up where they left off Tuesday afternoon, but unfortunately could not sustain the same success over the course of the entire game. Nori Aoki improved his on-base percentage by earning a lead off walk, which was followed by a solid single by Franklin Gutierrez. Up after Guti was Robinson Cano, and he promptly made up for his hitless game yesterday. On the first pitch he saw, Robinson Cano poked a home run over the top of the right field wall, for home run #16.

The Mariners failed to score after loading the bases in both the 1st and 2nd inning really hurt the offense this game. After the first inning three-run home run by Robinson Cano, the next Mariners run came after some hilariously heads up base running by Kyle Seager, and a couple of misplays by the Padres. With Chris Iannetta on first, Luis Sardinas scored Seager after grounding into a double play.

The Mariners did not go quietly, and tacked on some late inning runs. Seattle got one back in the 8th, thanks to a single by Luis Sardinas and an RBI double by pinch-hitter/hot bat, Seth Smith. In the bottom of the 9th, Kyle Seager got on with a single and was brought home by a Chris Iannetta double.

James Paxton made his first start of 2016, in place of Felix Hernandez who was placed on the 15-day DL today. Pax had a 3-0 lead before he even threw a pitch in the game, but the good feelings were eliminated after the 6-run first inning. After giving up a solo home run to Will Myers in the 1st inning, Pax allowed the Padres to tie the game on an RBI single by Alexi Rameryiez. San Diego took the lead with a two-run shot by Adam Rosales.

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The Padres added one run in the 2nd inning, increasing their lead 7-3. Things were scoreless in the third, but a two-run Alexei Ramirez home run made the score 9-2 in the fourth. Paxton pitched a total of 3.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, 8 runs (3 earned) with 2 home runs, one walk and 7 strikeouts. Paxton did manage to hit the high 90s with his fastball, so hopefully it was just one rough outing for the tall Canadian.

With Joel Peralta pitching in the 5th, Wil Meyers hit an RBI double to deep left field, scoring Jon Jay. Yangervis Solarte also singled in a run to make the score 11-4. Peralta pitched 1.1 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and no walks. Steve Johnson came in to pitch the 6th inning and promptly gave up a 2-run home run to Alexi Ramirez. Then allowed a sacrifice fly to Wil Meyers. Nick Vincent and Steve Cishek pitched scoreless innings for the Mariners int he 7th and 8th.

Next: Felix Hernandez on DL; James Paxton Recalled

Tomorrow will the conclusion of this short two-game series for the Seattle Mariners (30-22) and the San Diego Padres (21-33) at Petco Park. Wade Miley (5-2, 4.59 ERA) will look to finish things up for the Mariners. Collin Rea (3-2, 4.47 ERA) will start opposite him for the Padres.